Is Beyond Beef Plant-Based Ground ultra-processed?

16 oz Meat analogues Sold in the United States and Germany

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring
E326 Potassium lactate
E461 Methyl cellulose

17 ingredients
2 additives
Nutri-Score A

Less processed meat analogues

organic tempeh Lightlife 5 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 1
Textured vegetable protein Bob’s Red Mill 1 ingredient · no additives NOVA group 1
Mushroom Risotto Veggie Burgers Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods 18 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 1
Textured Pea Protein Acre Made 1 ingredient · no additives NOVA group 1

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Water, Yellow Pea Protein, Avocado Oil (processing marker), Natural Flavors (ultra-processing marker), Brown Rice Protein, Red Lentil Protein, Methylcellulose (ultra-processing marker), Potato Starch (processing marker), Pea Starch (processing marker), Potassium Lactate (ultra-processing marker), Faba Bean Protein, Apple Extract, Pomegranate, Potassium Salt, Spice, Vinegar, Vegetable Color

Additives: E326 Potassium lactate , E461 Methyl cellulose

As written on the pack

Water, Yellow Pea Protein, Avocado Oil, Natural Flavors, Brown Rice Protein, Red Lentil Protein, Methylcellulose, Potato Starch, Pea Starch, Potassium Lactate, Faba Bean Protein, Apple Extract, Pomegranate Concentrate, Potassium Salt, Spice, Vinegar, Vegetable Juice Color

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

E326 Potassium lactate Antioxidants are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by oxidation, such as fat rancidity and colour changes.
E461 Methyl cellulose Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

2 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 511 meat analogues

From least to most processed, this one ranks 243rd. 80% of the meat analogues here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 511 meat analogues, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0850004207093, last edited 22 April 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of A (from A, best, to E).
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.